Find asbestos before refurbishment or demolition finds it
Intrusive asbestos surveys matched to the planned work, helping Jersey clients, designers and contractors proceed with reliable information.
Discuss your project scope
Survey the exact area before work begins
A refurbishment and demolition survey is needed before refurbishment or demolition work is carried out where asbestos-containing materials may be disturbed. It is used to locate and describe, as far as reasonably practicable, all ACMs in the area where refurbishment will take place, or throughout the building if demolition is planned.
The survey involves representative sampling, with analysis undertaken by a competent UKAS ISO 17025 accredited laboratory. The report can then support the planning and tendering of appropriate asbestos work.
Match the scope to the project
The survey must be designed around the proposed work. Drawings, access arrangements and a clear description of what will be disturbed help ensure the right areas are inspected.
A fully intrusive survey
The survey will be fully intrusive and involve destructive inspection, as necessary, to gain access to all areas, including those that may be difficult to reach. A refurbishment and demolition survey may also be required when more intrusive maintenance and repair work will be carried out, or for plant removal or dismantling.
Refurbishment and demolition surveys are intended to locate asbestos in the building, or the relevant part, as far as reasonably practicable. The work may need to penetrate the building structure. Inspection techniques can include lifting carpets and tiles, opening ceilings and partitions, accessing cladding and voids, and opening up floors.
Because the inspection is disruptive, the affected area should normally be vacant and controlled while the survey is undertaken.
Using the survey information
Where asbestos must be removed before major refurbishment or demolition, this should be done so far as reasonably practicable and under suitable controls. Smaller projects involving structural or layout changes may also require asbestos removal or other planned controls before work proceeds.
The survey information should be used to help in the tendering process for asbestos work before the project starts. The client should provide the report to designers and contractors bidding for the work so that the asbestos risks can be properly addressed.
In this type of survey, where asbestos is identified so it can be removed or otherwise controlled before disturbance, the report does not normally provide the same material assessment as a management survey, other than noting damage or possible debris. If removal will not take place for some time, the ACMs’ condition must be assessed and the materials managed in the interim.
Frequently asked questions
Can a management survey be used for refurbishment?
Only if it provides sufficient information for the exact work. Intrusive refurbishment normally requires a targeted refurbishment survey of every area that could be disturbed.
Can the report be used to obtain removal prices?
Yes. A properly scoped report helps removal contractors price the identified work and allows the project team to plan access, controls and sequencing.
Jersey legal framework
Asbestos duties in Jersey sit within the Health and Safety at Work (Jersey) Law 1989 and the asbestos-specific Management of Exposure to Asbestos in Workplace Buildings and Structures: ACoP 8 (revised 2020). The Management of Health and Safety at Work: ACoP 14 provides wider risk-management guidance and operates alongside ACoP 8; it does not replace the asbestos-specific code. The Asbestos-Licensing (Jersey) Regulations 2008 apply to work with specified higher-risk asbestos materials.
This page provides general information. The appropriate scope and controls depend on the premises, material, condition and proposed work.
Need clear, practical asbestos advice?
Tell us about the property, the proposed work and the decision you need to make. We will recommend a proportionate next step.
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